[QuickTidal]

So here is my review for the first section of the omnibus (I'll be reviewing it in three separate reviews) FIRST AND ONLY.

http://icebergink.bl...0-founding.html

[amphibian]

The Gaunt's Ghosts books only get better.

Remember to follow with Ciaphas Cain. Those are the murderously funny WH40k twist on James Bond stories.

[QuickTidal]

amphibian, on 05 December 2011 - 06:52 PM, said:

The Gaunt's Ghosts books only get better.

Remember to follow with Ciaphas Cain. Those are the murderously funny WH40k twist on James Bond stories.

Indeed, I actually have those on my huge W40K list now.

Loving this series so far.

[Abyss]

I'm convinced. In particular, i appreciate the reassurance that no familiarity with the game is necessary.

Will add this to the TRP when opportunity strikes.

[Obdigore]

They really are all start fun, I picked up the 'Ravenor' omnibus, also by Dan Abnett, and we will see how that goes.

I enjoyed all of the Gaunts Ghosts omnibuses quite a bit

[Tapper]

Abyss, on 05 December 2011 - 07:47 PM, said:

I'm convinced. In particular, i appreciate the reassurance that no familiarity with the game is necessary.

Will add this to the TRP when opportunity strikes.

Abnett is pretty limited in what he describes of the 40k world, and it may well be the very best on offer, too. The Ghosts offer high octane violence, several believable characters, enough undercurrents to keep you entertained, without wishing for much more except perhaps a tiny bit more shades of gray (although Rawne is an entire colour palet of mixes of white and black all by himself). A minor note of critique is that I do think it comes crashing down a bit in the third omnibus where he feels he has to provide something different than the regimental combat he had shown until then, and implements several changes that weren't necessary at all to the set-up (imho).

I can definately recommend GG, and Ciaphas Cain if you need a light snack in between (never finished the first omnibus myself though as it got a tiny bit repetitive). The Horus Heresy novels however are much slower as they explain the main events in the Empire of Man a few thousand years ago, and thus require a knowledge of the background. My opinion of the first was that it was basically Teutonic testosterone porn of the worst variety, but ymmv.

Also, QT, your review is definately spot on but iirc, the Ghosts are a Regiment and not a Company?

This post has been edited by Tapper: 05 December 2011 - 10:48 PM

[Stalker]

@ Tapper- yeah the Ghosts are absolutely a regiment.


Anyway, good review. I think it is definitely a great place to jump into the 40K Universe (considering how frequently I've tried recommending the series to anyone), since they are some great military sci-fi books that anyone can enjoy, which just happen to take place in the 40k series. Unlike Tapper, I like the direction the series went in the third omnibus especially Only in Death, which is absolutely my favorite Ghost novel. So you have plenty of good reading ahead, QT.

[Tapper]

Stalker, on 06 December 2011 - 03:44 AM, said:

@ Tapper- yeah the Ghosts are absolutely a regiment.

Unlike Tapper, I like the direction the series went in the third omnibus especially Only in Death, which is absolutely my favorite Ghost novel. So you have plenty of good reading ahead, QT.

My fave is and was Necropolis - imho, nowhere else does the uselessness of slaughter and the mix of civilian bravery, military incompetence and the sense of not-belonging get any more emphasized.

Anyhow, my main gripe with the third omnibus:

Spoiler

The second merge of the Tanith/ Vervunhivers with the other regiment was completely unnecessary in the form it was done in, I feel.

I'll agree with you that the insertion of the small team on the corrupted world was well done and well-written but I was constantly bugged by the fact that it contained so many of the most important Ghosts that it felt top heavy - what insertion team consists of the best and second best scout, the best sniper, your second best surgeon and the 1st and 2nd in command of a 1500 man regiment? Imho, Abnett missed a chance to direct the spotlight on a few unknown/ lesser known Ghosts, although I do like the change in the relationship of Gaunt and Rawne. Also, the second generation of Ghosts being introduced with whatshisname, Golea's kid, felt out of place until the moment where he becomes a Ghost.

[Obdigore]

Tapper, I kind of wish

Spoiler

the other commander after the second mixing at the start of the third omnibus (ahhaha say that 3 times fast) stayed, with Gaunt as an advisor/commisar. Could have been fun. I'm not sure which book I liked the most, but I know it wasn't the citidel in the sandstorm one. Probably one of the middle ones before they go off on their ultraviolet misson

[Stalker]

Tapper, on 06 December 2011 - 09:52 AM, said:

Stalker, on 06 December 2011 - 03:44 AM, said:

@ Tapper- yeah the Ghosts are absolutely a regiment.

Unlike Tapper, I like the direction the series went in the third omnibus especially Only in Death, which is absolutely my favorite Ghost novel. So you have plenty of good reading ahead, QT.

My fave is and was Necropolis - imho, nowhere else does the uselessness of slaughter and the mix of civilian bravery, military incompetence and the sense of not-belonging get any more emphasized.

Anyhow, my main gripe with the third omnibus:

Spoiler

The second merge of the Tanith/ Vervunhivers with the other regiment was completely unnecessary in the form it was done in, I feel.

I'll agree with you that the insertion of the small team on the corrupted world was well done and well-written but I was constantly bugged by the fact that it contained so many of the most important Ghosts that it felt top heavy - what insertion team consists of the best and second best scout, the best sniper, your second best surgeon and the 1st and 2nd in command of a 1500 man regiment? Imho, Abnett missed a chance to direct the spotlight on a few unknown/ lesser known Ghosts, although I do like the change in the relationship of Gaunt and Rawne. Also, the second generation of Ghosts being introduced with whatshisname, Golea's kid, felt out of place until the moment where he becomes a Ghost.

Spoiler

Yeah those are definitely good points about the merge and insertion team. I also didn't feel it was necessary but had forgot about it in comparision to how much I enjoyed the omnibus overall.

Anyway, good choice on your favorite. That was a fantastic one too. I've enjoyed most of them, though Blood Pact would have to be the one I liked least. Once I'm done in school next week, I am planning to grab the new one, hopefully it is a bit better.

[QuickTidal]

Tapper, on 05 December 2011 - 10:47 PM, said:

Also, QT, your review is definately spot on but iirc, the Ghosts are a Regiment and not a Company?

Thanks! And noted: will correct in the review.

[QuickTidal]

Here is the review of the second part folks!

http://icebergink.bl...ounding_12.html

[Garak]

Random tid bit - Dan Abnett also suffers from epilepsy, though his first attack - and him finding that out - happened way after writing Ghostmaker, I think it was a couple of years ago.

Also random tid bit about the Ghosts that I noticed. Most IG regiments are composed as fireteam-> squads-> platoons -> companies-> battalions-> regiment. Now the Ghosts (from what I've noticed) seem to lack platoons as squads directly form companies and are led by Sergeants or Lieutenants (my memory might be faulty but I remember seeing both ranks in charge of companies). This might bug some people but personally I just think it reflects the combat losses - no company is at full strength and ranks are less important than abilities anyway (hell both Gaunt and Corbec are colonels, though Gaunt is also a commissar). I think this rag-tag command structure helps other, more arrogant and ordered, regiments look down upon the Tanith as savages.

Keep'em coming QT.


@Stalker I liked Blood Pact a lot - especially since it's a reverse of Traitor General.